Meet Our New Director of Technology Education & Innovation Matt Brinkman

Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to welcome Mr. Matt Brinkman, who will join the SFLS team as our Director of Technology Education & Innovation during the 2025-26 school year. 

Mr. Brinkman has over 20 years of experience in education. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, as well as several endorsements–including K-12 Educational Technology, from Dakota State University. He will oversee, implement, and lead our K-12 computer science and technology curriculum as we open a Dynamic SmartLab in the upper school addition in January, 2026, ensuring full alignment with new South Dakota Computer Science Standards, Federal AI Education Initiatives, and our faith-based mission—teaching technology within a Christian ethical framework.

As he joins our team, Mr. Brinkman will build a vertically aligned and future-ready technology curriculum across all grade levels, equip teachers through ongoing coaching and training, develop partnerships with community organizations and local businesses for real-world applications, and lead enrichment programming—like weekend innovation camps and parent-student workshops.

Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Mr. Brinkman and his passion for computer science and technology education.

Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.
My wife, Sara, is a 4-year-old preschool teacher at Sioux Falls Lutheran School. This will be her fifth year teaching at SFLS. My daughter, Sienna, will be entering 4th grade, and my son, Camden, will be going into 2nd grade.

How did you decide to pursue a career in education?
I have always been a teacher in some capacity. I remember my teachers in elementary school asking me to help other students with homework in small group settings. I was also in different academic and athletic groups in high school, and I was teaching in most of those groups. My experiences at Dakota State University strengthened my desire to be an educator.

What grade(s) and subject(s) do you have experience teaching?
I have the most experience in 4th grade, where I taught for 13 years. However, throughout my career I have taught all subjects in 4th through 8th grade. For the last seven years I have been teaching Elementary Technology. 

Tell me a bit about your teaching style.
I like to place priority on two big conceptual behaviors in my classroom, which are respect and curiosity. In my classroom, there is a large level of respect among all involved, which allows students to freely ask whatever questions they may have. All parties involved can help guide answers through discussion. I enjoy new adventures with my classes, and I welcome whatever curious ideas and questions students have. I like to think that my teaching style matches the design process very well, because I like to see my class learn and grow from mistakes.

What do you enjoy most about working as an educator?
I enjoy seeing students expand on learning moments we have in the classroom, and show where they go with those moments. Seeing students learn to code and construct projects provides them with an outlet to express their ideas, and I enjoy seeing the passion they have in doing this.

What do you most look forward to about your new position at Sioux Falls Lutheran School?
This will be the first time I will get to have my two children in a classroom of mine, so I am very excited to be able to teach them what I have been teaching to so many other students. They are always excited to see me coaching and teaching, so now they will get to see this every day.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13

About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is a family community committed to developing capable Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, our vision is to partner with families in preparing children, as led by the Holy Spirit, for faithful and bold use of their God-given gifts to navigate and serve a complex world with the love of Christ.